Standards for Training Packages
The following publication was endorsed by the former Standing Council for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment
(SCOTESE). On 13 December 2013, COAG agreed that its council system should be streamlined and refocused. As a result the
COAG Industry and Skills Council has been established to replace the former SCOTESE.
In addition, the National Skills Standard Council (NSSC) referred to in this document has been dissolved and its ongoing
functions will be delegated to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee which is to be established.
This publication remains current and applicable to the VET sector.
Standards for Training Packages
This document is one of three products that form the organising framework of standards that support the development of
industry Training Packages.
The Standards for Training Packages were endorsed by the Standing Council on Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment on
16 November 2012.
The Standards for Training Packages and their underpinning policies can be found on the NSSC website:
www.nssc.natese.gov.au/training_packages
The organising framework of standards includes:



NSSC - Standards for Training Packages
NSSC - Training Package Products Policy
NSSC - Training Packages Development and Endorsement Process Policy
Version: 1.0
© 2012 Commonwealth of Australia
With the exception of the NATESE and NSSC Logos, any material protected by a trademark and where otherwise noted, all
material presented in this document is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia license:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/
The details of the relevant license conditions are available on the Creative Commons website as is the full legal code for the
CC BY 3.0 AU license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/legalcode
The document must be attributed as the NSSC - Standards for Training Packages.

Purpose of the Standards
The purpose of the Standards for Training Packages is to ensure Training Packages are of high quality and meet
the workforce development needs of industry, enterprises and individuals.
The Standards for Training Packages apply to the design and development of Training Packages for endorsement
consideration by the National Skills Standards Council (NSSC).

Training Packages – products
Standard 1:
Training Packages consist of the following:
1. NSSC endorsed components:
 units of competency;
 assessment requirements (associated with each unit of competency);
 qualifications; and
 credit arrangements.
2. One or more quality assured companion volumes.

Training Packages – policy
Standard 2:
Standard 3:
Training Package developers comply with the NSSC Training Package Products Policy.
Training Package developers comply with the NSSC Training Package Development and
Endorsement Process Policy.

Training Packages – components
Units of Competency
Standard 4:
Units of competency specify the standards of performance required in the workplace.
Standard 5:
The structure of units of competency complies with the unit of competency template.
Assessment Requirements
Standard 6:
Assessment requirements specify the evidence and required conditions for assessment.
Standard 7:
Every unit of competency has associated assessment requirements. The structure of
assessment requirements complies with the assessment requirements template.
Qualifications
Standard 8:
Standard 9:
Qualifications comply with the Australian Qualifications Framework specification for that
qualification type.
The structure of the information for the Australian Qualifications Framework qualification
complies with the qualification template.
Credit Arrangements
Standard 10:
Credit arrangements existing between Training Package qualifications and Higher Education
qualifications are listed in a format that complies with the credit arrangements template.
Companion Volumes
Standard 11:
A quality assured companion volume implementation guide produced by the Training Package
developer is available at the time of endorsement and complies with the companion volume
implementation guide template.
Standard 12:
Training Package developers produce other quality assured companion volumes to meet the
needs of their stakeholders as required.

Unit of Competency Template
UNIT CODE
Mandatory field
UNIT TITLE
Mandatory field
APPLICATION
Mandatory field
PREREQUISITE UNIT
Optional field
COMPETENCY FIELD
Optional field
UNIT SECTOR
Optional field
ELEMENTS
Mandatory field
Elements describe the essential
outcomes.
1. Elements describe actions
or outcomes that are
demonstrable and
assessable.
The unit code contains the three alpha characters identifying the
Training Package, followed by alpha and/or numeric characters. It
must comply with the length specified in the AVETMIS Standard
(no more than 12 characters).
The title concisely describes the unit outcome.
It must comply with the length specified in the AVETMIS Standard
(no more than 100 characters)
The application section briefly describes how the unit is practically
applied in the industry and in what context(s) the unit may be
applied. It Includes:
 a summary statement of unit content;
 focused, useful information on how and where the unit of
competency could be practically applied and who might
use it; and
 the unit of competency’s relationship to any licensing,
legislative, regulatory or certification requirements.
Where no requirements exist, insert:
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements
apply to this unit at the time of publication.
List any unit(s) in which the candidate must be deemed
competent prior to the determination of competency in this unit.
Used only when the Training Package developer wishes to
categorise a set of units within a Training Package in relation to a
type of work.
Used only when the Training Package developer wishes to
categorise a set of units within a Training Package in relation to an
industry sector.
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Mandatory field
Performance criteria describe the performance needed to
demonstrate achievement of the element.
1.1 Performance criteria clearly relate to the element.
1.2 They are expressed as a standard.
1.3 They specify the required performance in relevant tasks,
roles, and skills.
1.4 They reflect the applied knowledge that enables competent
performance.
FOUNDATION SKILLS
Mandatory field
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to
performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance in this unit, but not explicit in the performance criteria
are listed here, along with a brief context statement.
Where all foundation skills essential to performance in this unit are explicit in the performance
criteria insert:
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of
this unit of competency.
RANGE OF CONDITIONS
Optional field
Specifies different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential
operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate,
accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.
Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work
environment.
UNIT MAPPING INFORMATION
Mandatory field
LINKS
Mandatory field
Specifies code and title of any equivalent unit of competency.
If no equivalent insert:
No equivalent unit.
Link to Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Assessment Requirements Template
TITLE
Mandatory field
PERFORMANCE EVIDENCE
Mandatory field
KNOWLEDGE EVIDENCE
Mandatory field
ASSESSMENT CONDITIONS
Mandatory field
LINKS
Mandatory field
Assessment Requirements for [insert Unit of Competency
Code and Title]

specifies the required product and process evidence.

specifies the frequency and/or volume of
product/process evidence.

specifies the relationship between the product and
process evidence and the performance criteria.

specifies what the individual must know in order to safely
and effectively perform the work task described in the unit
of competency.

relates directly to the performance criteria and/or range of
conditions.

indicates the type and depth of knowledge required to
meet the demands of the unit of competency.

stipulates any mandatory conditions for assessment.

specifies the conditions under which evidence for
assessment must be gathered, including any details of
equipment and materials, contingencies, specifications,
physical conditions, relationships with team members and
supervisor, relationship with client/customer, and
timeframe.

specifies assessor requirements, including any details
related to qualifications, experience and industry currency.

Link to Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Qualification Template
QUALIFICATION CODE
Mandatory field
QUALIFICATION TITLE
Mandatory field
QUALIFICATION DESCRIPTION
Mandatory field
The qualification code contains the three alpha characters
identifying the Training Package, a numeric character identifying
the AQF level, a two numeric character sequence identifier, and
two numeric characters identifying the year the qualification was
endorsed. It must comply with the length specified in the
AVETMIS Standard.
A unique title that reflects the qualification outcome. It must
comply with the length specified in the AVETMIS Standard (no
more than 100 characters).
A description of the qualification outcomes.
Any licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification
considerations. Where none exist insert:
No licensing, legislative or certification
requirements apply to this qualification at the
time of publication.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Optional field
PACKAGING RULES
Mandatory field
Specifies any mandatory entry requirements
Specifies the total number of units of competency required to
achieve the qualification.
Specifies the number of core and elective units.
QUALIFICATION MAPPING
INFORMATION
Mandatory field
LINKS
Mandatory field
Lists all core and elective unit codes and titles, including
prerequisite units where they apply.
Specifies code and title of any equivalent qualification.
If no equivalent insert:
No equivalent qualification.
Link to Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Credit Arrangements Template
CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR [insert Training Package Code and Title]
Mandatory field
QUALIFICATION CODE
Mandatory field
QUALIFICATION TITLE
Mandatory field
CREDIT ARRANGEMENT DETAILS
Mandatory field
Specifies existing credit arrangements between
Training Package qualifications and Higher
Education qualifications in accordance with the
AQF.
Where there are no direct credit arrangements
in place the following statement is inserted
here:
At the time of endorsement of this
Training Package no national credit
arrangements exist.
LINKS
Mandatory field
Link to Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Companion Volume Implementation Guide Template
COMPANION VOLUME IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE FOR (insert Training Package Code and Title)
Mandatory field
OVERVIEW
INFORMATION
Mandatory field
IMPLEMENTATION
INFORMATION
Mandatory field
LINKS
Optional field

Version control and modification history.

List of AQF qualifications, Skill Sets and units of competency
in the Training Package.

Unit mapping information, including equivalence table
linking old to new units of competency.

Qualification mapping information, including equivalence
table linking old to new qualification.

List of imported and prerequisite units in the Training Package.

Key work and training requirements in the industry.

Regulation and licensing implications for implementation.

Information on the key features of the Training Package and the
industry that will impact on the selection of training pathways.

Industry sectors and occupational outcomes of qualifications.

Explanation of any mandatory entry requirements for
qualifications.

Pathways advice, particularly in line with requirements of the AQF
Pathways Policy.

Access and equity considerations.

Foundation Skills.

Advice on any health and safety implications in the industry.

Resource and equipment lists relevant to the Training Package.

Legal considerations for learners in the workplace/on placements.

Other information relevant to implementation of the Training
Package.

Resources supporting the companion volume implementation
guide.

Other companion volumes as required including:

o
Learning strategies guidance, describing the diversity of
learners and learning strategies.
o
Knowledge guidance, identifying contextual information
such as knowledge requirements and resources.
o
Assessment strategies, providing guidance on
implementation of assessment requirements.
Training Package developer’s quality assurance process for
companion volumes.